MONTREAL -- Penn State junior swimmer Margy Keefe captured second-place for the United States in the 5K Open Water Swimming race with a time of 55 minutes, 44.3 seconds.

Keefe came within 4.2 seconds of becoming Penn State's first world champion swimmer. She led at the halfway point and at the 4.5K mark, but she was eventually passed by Russia's Larisa Ilchenko, who successfully defended her world championship in the same event with a time of 55:40.1.

From the start, the Australian and German..."

A race could start at Station Square and go to Sandcastle and back. Or, the race could start at the POINT and go up and back on each of the rivers.

The junior races could start upstream and finish downstream. Say from the boat ramp in the Mon on the South Side to Station Square or else the West End Bridge.

I'd love to take the open-water concept to the next level with fin swimming, snorkels, wet suits, and floating teather balls tied to the swimmers' waists.

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MONTREAL -- Penn State junior swimmer Margy Keefe captured second-place for the United States in the 5K Open Water Swimming race with a time of 55 minutes, 44.3 seconds.

Keefe came within 4.2 seconds of becoming Penn State's first world champion swimmer. She led at the halfway point and at the 4.5K mark, but she was eventually passed by Russia's Larisa Ilchenko, who successfully defended her world championship in the same event with a time of 55:40.1.

From the start, the Australian and German swimmers sprinted ahead of the pack with Keefe and University of Florida graduate Sara McLarty in the middle of the large lead group. The Americans occasionally swam together, being sandwiched between a host of swimmers. At the first turn, the lead Australian made a poor turn, leading the five lead swimmers astray. By the time the first group recovered, Keefe and McLarty were near the front.

"I did not enjoy the first half of the race," said Keefe, who was battered by her competitors and finished with a slight cut below her eye where another swimmer kicked her near the first buoy. "I am a pool swimmer, competing in my first World Championships and although I was prepared with all the speed work we do in training, I was worried about how physical the race would be. I do have a black eye, so I now think I know what to expect for the next time."

Keefe opened up a good body length lead throughout the third lap. Ilchenko, tucked in behind Keefe from the 2.5K mark to the 4K mark. With a half-kilometer to go, Ilchenko pulled slightly ahead and Keefe could not chase down the world champion. McClarty finished fourth.